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| KNBC (AM) | |
|---|---|
| Name | KNBC (AM) |
| City | Los Angeles, California |
| Area | Greater Los Angeles |
| Branding | KNBC News Radio |
| Frequency | 840 kHz |
| Format | News/Talk |
| Power | 50,000 watts |
| Owner | NBCUniversal |
| Licensee | NBCUniversal Media, LLC |
| Sister stations | KNBC-TV, KVEA, KWHY-TV |
KNBC (AM) is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Los Angeles serving the Greater Los Angeles area with news and talk programming tied to the NBC network and affiliated local outlets. The station has been associated with major media institutions including NBCUniversal, Westinghouse Electric Corporation, General Electric, and has intersected with figures from Hollywood such as Frank Sinatra and executives from Universal Studios. KNBC (AM) has played roles in coverage of events like the Northridge earthquake, the Los Angeles riots, and national elections involving the United States Congress and the Presidential election process.
KNBC (AM) traces lineage to early Los Angeles broadcasters and commercial chains including National Broadcasting Company initiatives and predecessors tied to Radio Corporation of America and Westinghouse. The station’s timeline parallels shifts in broadcasting exemplified by the Golden Age of Radio, the rise of Television in the United States, and corporate reorganizations involving General Electric and Comcast. Its programming evolution reflected broader trends seen at stations like KFI (AM), KCBS (AM), and KGO (AM), shifting from variety shows and network dramas to all-news and talk formats influenced by personalities comparable to Edward R. Murrow, Walter Winchell, and broadcasters associated with NBC News. Major historical moments covered include the World War II homefront reporting, the 1960 United States presidential election, the 1965 Watts riots, and civic crises such as the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
Operating on 840 kHz with a directional antenna system, KNBC (AM) transmits at 50,000 watts daytime power and uses patterns regulated by the Federal Communications Commission and coordinated under international agreements like those involving the International Telecommunication Union. Its technical infrastructure has evolved alongside innovations from manufacturers such as RCA, Harris Corporation, and Motorola. Programming combines syndicated content from NBC News Radio, local newscasts produced in studios akin to those at KNBC-TV, and specialty shows featuring commentators in the tradition of Paul Harvey, Ira Glass, and hosts aligned with networks like Westwood One and Premiere Networks. The station has carried live coverage of sporting events tied to franchises including the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Rams and simulcasts of breaking reports paralleling practices at NPR member stations and commercial outlets such as WBBM (AM).
Over time the station has employed journalists and anchors who intersect with names from NBC News bureaus and local outlets, including reporters who moved between KNBC-TV, KABC-TV, and national desks like MSNBC and NBC Nightly News. Notable on-air figures have included veterans in the mold of Tom Brokaw, Brian Williams, and regional anchors similar to those at KTLA and KTTV. Investigative pieces have connected with institutions such as the Los Angeles Times and producers linked to programs modeled after 60 Minutes and Dateline NBC. Guest commentators and interview subjects have ranged from politicians in the California State Assembly to entertainers associated with Academy Awards ceremonies, and cultural coverage has featured artists represented by entities like Capitol Records and Warner Bros. Records.
Ownership history involves transactions among major media conglomerates including NBCUniversal, previous stewardship by Westinghouse Electric Corporation, and corporate chapters involving General Electric and Comcast Corporation. These shifts mirrored industry consolidation trends that also affected companies such as ViacomCBS, Disney, and AT&T and regulatory oversight from the Federal Communications Commission and antitrust reviews connected to mergers like the Comcast–NBCUniversal deal. The station’s licensee structure and affiliations have been adjusted in contexts similar to divestitures seen at Emmis Communications and Clear Channel Communications during market realignments.
KNBC (AM) has engaged in community initiatives paralleling campaigns run by broadcasters and civic partners such as United Way, Red Cross, and local nonprofit coalitions in Los Angeles County. Public-service campaigns have addressed emergencies like the 1994 Northridge earthquake and public-health efforts related to agencies like the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Controversies have involved debates over newsroom ethics and standards reminiscent of issues at NBC News and disputes that echoed public scrutiny faced by outlets like CNN and Fox News during coverage of events such as the Rodney King case and election reporting controversies tied to the 2000 United States presidential election recount. Community criticism has also engaged civic groups including the American Civil Liberties Union and labor organizations comparable to the SAG-AFTRA and United Auto Workers in disputes over programming decisions and employment practices.
Category:Radio stations in Los Angeles Category:NBCUniversal Category:News and talk radio stations in the United States